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Analog TV Lead Continues to Slip
As television manufacturers continue to add digital television tuners to more sets and as the government moves to impose a hard cut-off date for analog television broadcasting, the final years for analog television sales are drawing near. Government mandates for inclusion of digital tuners in all televisions began to have a major impact on analog television. In 2005, after manufacturers were required to equip 50 percent of all the televisions they sell in the 25- to 36-inch screen sizes with digital tuners, making them, in effect, digital television sets. As of March 1, 2006, 100 percent of such sets were required to have digital tuning. Therefore, analog TV sales in 2006 are relegated mostly to screen sizes measuring 24-inches and under. Digital-to-analog converter boxes and cable and satellite television services will assure analog TVs sold this year many more years of use, but the government-imposed digital tuner mandates quickly are bringing an end to the analog chapter of television manufacturing. Analog Sales Decline Continues
Based on CEA estimates, sales to U.S. dealers of all analog direct-view CRT televisions will decline a whopping 50.4 percent to 8.3 million units in 2006. Even before the mandate hits, sales of non-H/DTV direct-view television sets for 2005 (including TV/VCR and TV/DVD combo units) were down 8.1 percent, at 20.2 million units. Stand-alone analog direct-view color CRTs declined 15 percent to 16.9 million units.
*Excludes LCD, projection TV, TV combinations and digital TV sets and displays Analog TV Combo Sales Drop Flat is in for Direct-view TV
To mark a change in the otherwise mature category, manufacturers are placing more emphasis on style and design, making trusty old analog picture tube sets resemble their new high-tech DTV cousins. Perhaps the biggest trend in analog (and digital) direct-view CRT designs in the last three years is the proliferation of sets incorporating picture tubes with virtually flat screens. In fact, some manufacturers are phasing out lines of curved glass, direct-view sets altogether, in favor of the popular flat-glass models.
Source: CEA Market Research
LCD TVs for Analog Signals Another popular twist on old technology is small flat-panel LCD TVs, which now are marketed for special applications in specific rooms of the house such as kitchens and bathrooms. LCD TVs with screen sizes below 20-inches are designed for use with analog signals only and are not equipped with connectors to accept DTV signals. These have 4:3 aspect ratios as well. Typically, larger models have 16:9 widescreen aspect ratios and are designed for both DTV and analog TV input, as well as PC data, in some cases. TVs Are Parent Friendlier
As of January 1, 2000, all color TV receivers 13-inches or larger incorporate a so-called "V" (for violence) chip in accordance with federal mandates. This circuit allows TV owners (usually parents) to program their sets to block out broadcasts that have what viewers consider excessive levels of violence, sexual content or objectionable language. The ruling applies to consumer TV sets and does not extend to VCRs, set-top boxes, TVs for commercial use, video circuit boards for PCs and satellite and wireless cable receivers. Some manufacturers design their V-chips to enable parents to block unrated programming, such as news, sports and locally produced programs and commercials. |
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